#MeToo India Movement: The List of Accused Celebrities & Victims

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The #MeToo movement has finally arrived in India as well. With Tanushree Dutta publicly accusing Nana Patekar, more and more women are gathering the courage to open up about their ordeals. The campaign has taken its toll not only on the entertainment industry but other sectors as well. Actors, comedians, editors-in-chief, authors, journalists, businessmen have all found themselves accused of inappropriate behavior towards women.

Here’s the list of Indian celebrities accused of harassment as a part of the #MeToo movement:

1. Nana Patekar

Nana Patekar’s name started doing rounds in media when Tanushree Dutta appeared with fresh allegations of sexual harassment in September 2018. Reportedly, it all started during the shoot of the 2008 movie ‘Horn Ok Pleasss.’ Tanushree Dutta also mentioned that she faced depression after the incident that took place nearly 10 years ago.

3. Alok Nath

Defying his ‘sanskaari’ image, Alok Nath has been accused of harassment by four females. The producer and writer of the 1990 show ‘Tara’, Vinta Nanda, has leveled the charges of sexual harassment against the actor. Actress Navneet Nishan backed Vinta’s allegations and opened up that she, as well, was harassed by Alok Nath. Sandhya Mridul also revealed that even she was harassed by Alok Nath in her early years of career. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety actress, Deepika Amin has also come forward accusing Alok Nath of harassment.

Everyone in the industry knows that #AlokNath is an obnoxious drunkard who harasses women. Years ago on a telefilm outdoor shoot he tried to barge into my room. He slobbered over women, drunk and created a scene. The unit rallied around me and made sure I was safe. #metoo

4. Sajid Khan

Filmmaker Sajid Khan has been accused of sexual and mental harassment by actress, Saloni Chopra, and others. Saloni was Sajid’s former assistant director. Reportedly, Sajid asked her if she has ever been sexually abused; back when he was interviewing her for the assistant director. He told Chopra that she was the ‘director’s assistant’ and not an ‘assistant director.’ Fame Ungli actress, Rachel white and journalist, Karishma Upadhyay also have allegations leveled against him on the grounds of sexual harassment. Mandana Karimi and Simran Suri, both actresses, have leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Khan. Sajid Khan has also been accused of sexual harassment by Priyanka Bose who has worked in critically acclaimed Hollywood movie ‘Lion.’

I finally decided to share my story with you. Writing this was like re-living all that horrible past I’d chosen to let go of, but I knew if I don’t today, I may never. So here’s #metoo#MetooIndiahttps://t.co/brouTYIBC7

I kept thinking all these years @whitespeaking to talk about this a## @SimplySajidK and what stopped me was that nobody would listen. He did exactly the same with me while he was casting for Himmatwala. Called me to his juju house and asked me to strip. https://t.co/BSNnMFjv9K

5. Rajat Kapoor

Accused by: Three women (anonymous )

Actor Rajat Kapoor has been accused of harassment by three women. All the women have chosen to remain anonymous. All the three women have accused Rajat Kapoor of misconduct and two of them have even leveled the allegations of sexual harassment against him.

6. Vikas Bahl

Director and former co-founder of the Phantom Films, Vikas Bahl, has been accused of sexual harassment by three actresses. Kangana Ranaut and her co-star in 2013 movie Queen, Nayani Dixit, are the two actresses who had been open about the issue. However, yet another actress accused him of misconduct chose to remain anonymous. Reportedly, this #MeToo campaign against Vikas Bahl has been cited the reason behind the dissolution of Phantom Films (jointly founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena, and Vikas Bahl). Another actress, Saloni Chopra has also accused Bahl of harassment.

(1) I met Kailash for coffee in Prithvi Café to discuss a forthcoming concert where both our bands were playing & after the usual, a hand on my thigh with lines likes, your so beautiful, feel so good that a ‘musician got you’ (Ram) not an actor. I left not soon after. (1) https://t.co/Cfz8Hf4sdP

8. Subhash Ghai

Even director Subhash Ghai has not managed to get away safe. An anonymous woman has accused Ghai of drugging and raping her. Writer, Mahima Kukreja, has shared the screenshots of a private conversation of herself with the victim, who is a ‘credible media/lit personality.’ Another actress, Kate Sharma, has lodged a molestation complaint against Ghai.

TW: drugging and raping. About Shubash Ghai. Told personally by the woman who faced the trauma. She’s also a very credible media/lit personality. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/QpmGfy1s0V

9. Piyush Mishra

Accused by: Ketki Joshi (journalist)

Ketki Joshi, a journalist, has accused actor, Piyush Mishra, of sexual harassment. In a Facebook post, the journalist narrated the incident, which, reportedly, took place at a party in 2014. Joshi further said, “he grabbed my hand and started rubbing his hands against mine.”

10. Gaurang Doshi

Stree actress, Flora Saini, has indicted film producer, Gaurang Doshi, of abuse that had taken place more than a decade ago. The actress, while sharing a photograph of herself with a broken jaw, mentioned that the physical abuse, which took place on valentine’s day in 2007, not only left her without any work, but she also had to face threats from Doshi.

11. Chetan Bhagat

Accused by: Anusha, Ira Trivedi (author)

Chetan Bhagat, a well-known author, has also made headlines; because of a girl named Anusha, who shared WhatsApp screenshots of her chat with Bhagat while he was trying to ‘woo her.’ The ‘Five Point Someone’ author referred to the girl as ‘sweet and cute and funny and a nice human being.’ Ira Trivedi, an author, has come forward and accused Chetan Bhagat of sexual misconduct. In defense, Bhagat has put forth a proof accusing Trivedi of false claims and initiating a conversation in a flirtatious manner.

So who wanted to kiss whom? @iratrivedi’s self-explanatory email from 2013 to me, esp last line, easily shows her claims from 2010 are false, and she knows this too. This mental harassment of me and my family has to stop. Please don’t harm a movement with #fakecharges#harassedpic.twitter.com/SWeaSCfHLd

12. Anu Malik

Singer Sona Mohapatra has also accused composer of being a ‘serial predator.’ She mentioned that Anu Malik would call her at odd hours and had even made a lewd remark on her in front of her husband, back in October 2006. Moreover, Shweta Pandit and Caralisa Monteiro have also accused Anu Malik of sexual misconduct.

Indian politician and the Rajya Sabha member, M J Akbar, who was the Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs has sexual allegations levelled up against him by several journalists. Priya Ramani, a senior journalist, has come up as a part of the #MeToo campaign and held the minister accountable for sexual harassment, which took place back in 2008; while he was the editor of a newspaper. Ghazala Wahab, executive editor FORCE newsmagazine and co-author of the book ‘Dragon on our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power’ has also accused Akbar of sexual misconduct and molestation. Another US journalist, Pallavi Gogoi has shared her #MeToo moment whereby she has accused M J Akbar of raping her who also “coerced her sexually, verbally and emotionally.” Similar allegations were made by other journalists as well.

I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share. #ultihttps://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7

14. Abhijeet Bhattacharya

Accused by: A Flight Attendant (anonymous)

An anonymous flight attendant has accused Abhijeet Bhattacharya of sexual misconduct and said that the singer was ‘almost kissing and nibbling me on my left ear.’ However, the singer lashes out such reports and refers to the flight attendant as a ‘fat and ugly girl’ who just ‘wants attention.’

15. Mukesh

Accused by: Tess Joseph

The name of the popular Kerala actor and CPI-M MLA Mukesh has also come up after the #MeToo movement spread its roots in India. A woman named Tess Joseph has accused the actor-MLA of sexual harassment.

I was 20 years old quiz directing #koteeswaran when the mallu host #mukeshkumar called my room multiple times and then changed my room to beside his on the next sch. My then boss @derekobrienmp spoke to me for an hour & got me out on the next flight. 19 yrs on thank you Derek.

17. Suhel Seth

Accused by:

Mandakini Gahlot (journalist)

Natashja Rathore (film director & entrepreneur)

Ira Trivedi (author)

Two Anonymous Women

At least 5 women have accused the 55- year old filmmaker, Suhel Seth, of sexual harassment. One of the women was a minor at the time of the horrific incident. Moreover, two among them have specifically leveled allegations of sexual assault against him. Author, Ira Trivedi, also shared her #MeToo story and accused Seth of sexual assault and harassment.

Part 1: I am not doing this for publicity. I am not doing this for Money. I am not doing this to malign a person. I am doing this solely to empower other women to directly confront the perpetrator. It’s hard – But it’s about time. This is my #MeToo message to Suhel Seth. pic.twitter.com/h1Z4VCBoq7

I am not at all surprised that Suhel Seth's name has come up in the #MeToo conversation. For years he has preyed on young women, and the whisper network was ripe with stories of his depravity. I was 26 when he publicly harassed and humiliated me. No one stopped him. @MasalaBai

21. Subhash Kapoor

Accused by: Geetika Tyagi (actress)

Geetika Tyagi, an actress, had accused film director, Subhash Kapoor, of molesting her in 2014. The matter, however, is still in court. The matter came into the limelight after the actor, Aamir Khan and his wife, Kiran Rao, released a joint statement that they will be ‘stepping away’ from a movie project because of allegations of sexual harassment against a crew member.

22. Vairamuthu

Accused by:

Chinmayi Sripaada (singer)

Other Anonymous Women

The Chennai Express’ song ‘Titli’ singer, Chinmayi Sripaada has opened up and shared her #MeToo moment and accused the senior lyricist Vairamuthu of harassment. Moreover, multiple women have accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment but have chosen to remain anonymous.

23. Luv Ranjan

Accused by: An Anonymous Actress

Luv Ranjan, the director of the movies ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ and ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, has been accused of harassment by an actress, who gave auditions for the lead in ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama.’ The actress, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that Ranjan asked her to strip while he was carrying out the auditions for the lead roles. She also stated that Luv asked her some lewd questions; which made her extremely uncomfortable.

24. Vinod Dua

Accused by: Nishtha Jain (filmmaker)

Padma Shri awardee and journalist, Vinod Dua, has been accused by Nishtha Jain, a filmmaker, of sexual harassment. Jain recalls her experience and mentioned that Dua told lewd jokes to her and even stalked and groped her.

25. Sham Kaushal

Accused by: Nameeta Prakash

Veteran action-director and Vicky Kaushal’s father, Sham Kaushal, has been accused of sexual harassment by Nameeta Prakash, an assistant director. Prakash shared that Kaushal Sr urged her to join him in his room, after the wrap, for a drink. She also said that the director even showed a pornographic video to her.

27. Ashish Patil

Accused by: An Anonymous Actress

YashRaj Film’s Talent and Business Head, Ashish Patil, has been accused of exploiting former aspiring model and actress sexually. Reportedly, Patil took her out for a drive and also tried to kiss the actress.

28. Jatin Das

Accused by:

Nisha Bora (entrepreneur)

Anushree Majumdar (journalist)

Nandita Das‘ father, Jatin Das, has been accused of harassment by two women. Nisha Bora, an entrepreneur, alleges that Jatin Das groped her and even tried to kiss her forcefully in 2004. Anushree Majumdar, a journalist with The Indian Express, has opened up about her encounter with the painter and sculptor, who is also a Padma Bhushan awardee.

(1/3) I was fresh out of college when I met Jatin Das in 2006. I was a project manager for the first Monsoon Festival in Delhi, 2006. I had to pick up a painting from his studio, I called him to ask when. He was sweet till he asked me if I would work for him as his assistant. https://t.co/PsQ9WRO1tB

29. Mukesh Chhabra

Accused by: Multiple Women

Casting director, Mukesh Chabbra, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Four women have come forward to share their #MeToo moment and revealed that they were harassed by the casting director during auditions.

30. Ere Gowda

Accused by: An Anonymous Woman

Kannada film director and screenwriter Ere Gowda has been accused of sexual assault by an anonymous women. A friend of the woman shared the details of the horrific incident on Facebook. The woman also said that Ere was attracted to her in a sexual way and even touched her inappropriately.